Where They Stand: Defensive Line

Hunter Paniagua

02/25/2014

LSU always has its eye on adding elite defensive linemen, and the Tigers were active Monday, extending three new offers to pass rushers. TSD has the latest on each new target as well as an overview on the Tigers' recruitment of defensive linemen in the Class of 2015.

As it is every year, defensive line will be a major need for LSU in the Class of 2015. The Tigers need to continue reloading the depth at defensive tackle after the departures of Anthony Johnson and Ego Ferguson, and LSU will also need to add pass rushers after only taking one true defensive end in the 2014 class.

The Tigers already have one on board for 2015, Edna Karr DE Isaiah Washington, with several more targets high on the list. The Tigers' radar grew a bit wider on Monday as DL coach Brick Haley extended three new offers, spanning coast to coast.

TSD's Hunter Paniagua will provide an overview on each of the three new offers, and also provide some more notes on LSU's recruitment of defensive linemen in the 2015 class.

Four-star defensive tackle Albert Huggins (Orangeburg, S.C.) was the first prospect to report an offer Monday. Huggins already has offers from just about all the major players in the Southeast, but LSU has decided to enter the mix and try to gauge where his interest lies.

At about 6-foot-2, 280 pounds, is a strong, solid interior prospect. He has the versatility though to play anywhere along the defensive line, and can even provide a pass rush off the edge if necessary. LSU likes linemen that can do a number of different things, and that's the type of player Huggins is.

In terms of his recruitment, Huggins has mostly focused on the in-state schools South Carolina and Clemson, making numerous trips to each in the last year. Huggins has also mentioned interest in Florida, Florida State and Georgia, but he's had few opportunities to leave the state to take visits. Huggins will try to get out this summer to check out some other schools, and LSU will try to land a spot on the itinerary.

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LSU then stretched over to the West Coast to offer five-star prospect Keisean Lucier-South (Orange, Calif.). He ranks as the nation's No. 3 DE and has great length at 6-foot-5. He's a little light at only about 215-220 pounds, but he will be able to carry a lot more muscle and plays stronger than his weight.

Speed is definitely Lucier-South's biggest strength, as he's extremely fast off the line. He has the ability to get a step or two on the tackle before he's even out of his stance. Some schools might recruit him as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, but LSU likes him with his hand in the dirt as a pass rusher off the edge.

The California schools seem to have the early advantage in his recruitment. Most consider him an early UCLA lean with USC also making him a high priority at this stage. Lucier-South grew up rooting for Michigan, so they're a factor in his recruitment as well. He does plan to take all five official visits though, so LSU will try to build a strong enough relationship with him in order to contend for one of those spots.

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The third offer of the day went to Atlanta-area pass rusher D'Andre Walker (Fairburn, Ga.), a four-star prospect as an outside linebacker. Most evaluators see Walker as a standing pass-rusher that would be a great fit in a 3-4 scheme, but he can also play along the line, and that's where LSU sees him fitting for now.

Like Lucier-South, Walker has tons of speed coming off the edge, and that's a big part of his upside. He's still a bit raw, but he has the physical ability to be a promising prospect for the next level.

It's early in his recruitment, but most feel he's wide-open to all his suitors. Obviously Georgia feels it has an early advantage, and that is where the most comfort is at this point. But there's room for LSU to get in the mix, and most believe his recruitment will take a number of twists and turns in the next year.

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Outside of this group, there are several other national names to keep an eye on along the defensive line. Four-star Arden Key (Lithonia, Ga.) was once a South Carolina commit but dropped his pledge in the fall. Georgia has picked up a lot of momentum with him, but he's still wide open and LSU is in the mix. Three-star Rasool Clemons (Aiken, S.C.) landed a LSU offer a couple months back, and has said the Tigers were a school he grew up rooting for.

LSU also offered five-star DE Josh Sweat (Chesapeake, Va.) last week and hope to get in the mix with him. LSU's also in on another five-star lineman in Byron Cowart (Seffner, Fla.). Four-star prospect Terry Beckner (East St. Louis, Ill.) has also said LSU's one of his top schools at this early stage in his recruitment.

In Louisiana, LSU has its eyes on a handful of prospects. Riverside's Joe Anderson has been a hot name on the recruiting trail lately, and he was on campus for "Boys from the Boot." Silliman's Jozie Milton is up to double digit offers, and if LSU were to join that list, they'd be a heavy favorite to land this three-star prospect.

\r\n\r\nLSU then stretched over to the West Coast to offer five-star prospect Keisean Lucier-South (Orange, Calif.). He ranks as the nation's No. 3 DE and has great length at 6-foot-5. He's a little light at only about 215-220 pounds, but he will be able to carry a lot more muscle and plays stronger than his weight.

\r\n\r\nSpeed is definitely Lucier-South's biggest strength, as he's extremely fast off the line. He has the ability to get a step or two on the tackle before he's even out of his stance. Some schools might recruit him as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, but LSU likes him with his hand in the dirt as a pass rusher off the edge.

\r\n\r\nThe California schools seem to have the early advantage in his recruitment. Most consider him an early UCLA lean with USC also making him a high priority at this stage. Lucier-South grew up rooting for Michigan, so they're a factor in his recruitment as well. He does plan to take all five official visits though, so LSU will try to build a strong enough relationship with him in order to contend for one of those spots.

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\r\n\r\nThe third offer of the day went to Atlanta-area pass rusher D'Andre Walker (Fairburn, Ga.), a four-star prospect as an outside linebacker. Most evaluators see Walker as a standing pass-rusher that would be a great fit in a 3-4 scheme, but he can also play along the line, and that's where LSU sees him fitting for now.

\r\n\r\nLike Lucier-South, Walker has tons of speed coming off the edge, and that's a big part of his upside. He's still a bit raw, but he has the physical ability to be a promising prospect for the next level.

\r\n \r\nIt's early in his recruitment, but most feel he's wide-open to all his suitors. Obviously Georgia feels it has an early advantage, and that is where the most comfort is at this point. But there's room for LSU to get in the mix, and most believe his recruitment will take a number of twists and turns in the next year.

\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nOutside of this group, there are several other national names to keep an eye on along the defensive line. Four-star Arden Key (Lithonia, Ga.) was once a South Carolina commit but dropped his pledge in the fall. Georgia has picked up a lot of momentum with him, but he's still wide open and LSU is in the mix. Three-star Rasool Clemons (Aiken, S.C.) landed a LSU offer a couple months back, and has said the Tigers were a school he grew up rooting for.

\r\n\r\nLSU also offered five-star DE Josh Sweat (Chesapeake, Va.) last week and hope to get in the mix with him. LSU's also in on another five-star lineman in Byron Cowart (Seffner, Fla.). Four-star prospect Terry Beckner (East St. Louis, Ill.) has also said LSU's one of his top schools at this early stage in his recruitment.

\r\n\r\nIn Louisiana, LSU has its eyes on a handful of prospects. Riverside's Joe Anderson has been a hot name on the recruiting trail lately, and he was on campus for \"Boys from the Boot.\" Silliman's Jozie Milton is up to double digit offers, and if LSU were to join that list, they'd be a heavy favorite to land this three-star prospect.